Hartwell w



PATENTED JAN. 5, l904.

H. W. WEBB.

GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

I/VZESSES-I'Q 15 1 1?. 8

P u'rna, wnsumamn n (4 UNITED STATES Patented January 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GAS-G EN ERATO R.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 749,006, dated January 5, 1904. Application filed January '7. 1903. Serial No. 138,156. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARTWELL W. WEBB, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas- Generators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art'to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to gas-generators, especially of the acetylene type. Its object is to provide a liquid-supply; and to this end it consists of means for inducing a capillary film and means for controlling the supply preceding the formation of the'film and details of construction, as more particularly set forth in the claims.

As an illustration and with no intention of in any way limiting the broad application of my invention, I have shown my generator as applied to an acetylene-lamp suitable for bicycles or automobiles.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical section. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective, and Figs. 3 and a are partial central sections of modifications.

In the drawings, 1 represents the usual water-chamber, which in the present example is illustrated as inclosing a carbid-receptacle 2, though the relative positions of the two may be reversed or modified without affecting the principle of my invention, the operation being practicable whether the carbid-chamber be inclosed by the water-chamber, depend in or above the Water-chamber, or inclose the.

8 is, broadly, a plate or, more specifically,

the carbid-receptacle 2 and forced down until there is formed a water-space or preliminary feed 12 and a capillary space or feed 13.

14 indicates spacing projections or indentations on the supplemental receptacle and preferably around its rim, so'that when it'is forced down the projections may serve to prevent too close a contact of the wall of the supplemental receptacle and the wall of the carbid-receptacle, and may thus insure the maintenance of the capillary space. It is apparent that any location of the spacing projections or their equivalents will suflice pro viding the object sought be achieved.

15 is a boss attached to the bottom of the water-chamber 1 and having an upwardlyprojecting screw-threaded stem 16. The boss fits under and the stem projects through a raised part 17 of the bottom. The bottom of the supplemental receptacle 8 is correspondingly raised at 18 to fit over the raised part 17, a space between the two admitting a collar 19 and a thumb-screw 20, so that by means of the thumb-screw the supplemental receptacle may be lifted out or replaced and secured, the shank of the thumb-screw preferably having a collar above the supplemental receptacle to enable it to push down the supplemental receptacle when the screw is turned. It will be apparent thatthis device, in common with other mechanical details, is merely an example of the many convenient devices which may be used in handling the supplemental receptacle.

In Fig. 3 at 21 I have shown a groove in the supplemental receptacle which may be used as a substitute for the reduction 11, while at 22 in Fig. 4 I have illustrated the groove as in the wall of the carbid-receptacle instead of in the supplemental receptacle. The dotted line 23 is intended to indicate that the supplemental receptacle need not necessarily have the inclined or gradually-increasing wall. In this figure I have also illustrated as a practical modification the low point of the supplemental receptacle opposite the port 7.

Taking the form shown in Fig. 1 as in use, the carbid-receptacle 2 will receive its charge, which will reach above the supplemental re ceptacle 8, practically, it may be assumed, filling the receptacle. The water-chamber is supplied with a charge and the valve 5 operated to admit the water through the port 7 into the water-space 12, it being assumed that the supplemental receptacle 8 has been placed in the bottom of the carbid-receptacle and screwed down, so that the space above the water-space 12 is a capillary space or feed 13. The water will pass around the reduced portion of the supplemental receptacle-that is, around the Water-space l2-and, obeying the familiar law of capillary action, will rise in the space 13, which is immediately above the lowest point 9 of the supplemental receptacle. As the wateris taken up by the carbid, converting it into lime, I find that the lime creates or forms a kind of wick, which assists the progressive saturation of the carbid along the incline of the supplemental receptacle 8 and in all directions. As I have previously indicated, it is not essential that the gradually-progressive action shall be provided. The supplemental receptacle may, for example, furnish one wall of a capillary space of equal or more nearly equal height at all points, being subject to any variation within the range of the law of capillarity. I prefer the arrangement I illustrate, because it enables me to secure that balance and nicety of operation which are such important factors in this class of generators.

The reduced portion (or the groove) of the supplemental receptacle serves to regularly and uniformly supply all parts of the capillary space With water, and I also regard the control of the water-supply to the waterspace by a valve or a similar element as an important auxiliary.

'As indicated, the projections or indentations 14 appear to be efiective in insuring a uniform capillary space when they are placed at or near the top of the supplemental receptacle as distinguished from midway or lower.

In my generator the water comes first directly in contactwith the loose carbid at the point at which it leaves the capillary space that is, in my preferred form, at the lowest point of the supplemental receptacle. As the adjacent carbid is saturated the spent lime acts upon the water so that it is sucked up from the immediate neighborhood of the entering-point, gradually carrying the elfect forward along the inclined line higher and higher, and thus avoiding any possibility of retarding the action by any occasional surface tension or friction in the capillary space. The water in my preferred form will creep along the inclined line from both directions, creating gradually a continuous and uniformly-acting wick of the spent lime, which will reach every layer. The so-formed wick of saturated lime becomes enlarged by the destruction of the carbid as the operation proceeds, and the whole body of the carbid will thus certainly and uniformly be attacked from all directions.

During generation the gas in flowing upward will in a measure take up the moisture of the wick of lime and as it passes through the upper layers of carbid will impart its moisture to the carbid, and thus advance the uniformity of saturation and generation. The upward flow of the gas generated in the lower layers is of course governed by the demand at the burner in the example I have illustrated, and to the same extent this auxiliary generation will be controlled.

By the use of my mechanical capillary feed and the control of the water I do away with gravity feed and pressure as an incident of supply, and thus prevent any sudden floodingofthecarbid-chamberand consequent undue generation of gas.

By the use of the capillary feed and the creation or induction of a capillary film I also provide an efficient means for preventing back pressure of the gas, for while the 'capillary space permits the upward flow with comparative ease the capillary column will resist in a far greater degree dislodgment by back pressure of the gas. The capillary space therefore is in itself a valve holding a seal admitting water readily, but resisting the flow of gas. This effect is enhanced by what may be termed the radial dispersion of the capillary filmthat is, by the fact that my arrangement enables me to provide a thin film around the supplemental receptacle, giving a large area of attack with a small feed, the resistance to back pressure not being dependent upon the quantity of water in the seal caused by the film or by a counteracting extraneous pressure.

My invention also permits an economy in the construction of a lamp-generator such as I have chosen for illustration. I surround the carbid-receptacle by the water-chamber, and as I do not depend upon or require a pressure to provide the water-supplyl am able to use the compact form shown, in which the carbid-receptacle may even be higher than the enveloping water-chamber.

While I have thus set forth theories of operation and stated some advantages of my generator, I do not contemplate either an exhaustive discussion of the theories and advantages or a recitation of all the mechanical modifications which may be madein my generator without departing from the principles of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a gas-generator, the combination of IIO two walls capillarly spaced one within the other, with means for feeding water to the bottom of the capillaryspace or chamber, and

means for holding carbid and presenting it to the water at the top of the capillary space.

2. In agas-generator, thecombination with a water-chamber and a carbid-receptacle, of means forforming a capillary chamber within and about the circumference of the carbidreceptacle.

3. In a gas-generator, the combination of a water-chamber, a carbid-receptacle,and a plate or supplemental receptacle forming with the wall of the receptacle a capillary feed.

4:. In a gas-generator, the combination of a waterchamber, a carbid receptacle, and a supplemental receptacle of less height than the carbid-receptacle,and disposed within the receptacle at such a distance from the walls thereof as to induce a capillary film of water.

5. In a gasgenerator, the combination with a water-chamberand a carbid-receptacle, of a plate or su pplemental receptacle forming with the walls of the receptacle a continuous capillary chamber.

6. In a gas-generator, the combination of a water-chamber, a carbid-receptacle,a plate or supplemental receptacle within the receptacle forming with the walls of the receptacle a feed-chamber open at the top, and a communication between the water-chamber and the feed-chamber.

7. In agas-generator, the combination of a water chamber, a carbid receptacle, and means for inducing a capillary film of gradually-increasing height.

8. In a gas-generator, the combination of a water-chamber,a carbid-receptacle, a supplemental receptacle in the bottom of the carbidreceptacle, a water-space encircling the lower part and a capillary space encircling the upper part of the supplemental receptacle and feeding from the water-space.

9. In a gas-generator, the combination with a water-chamber and a communicating carbid-receptacle, a supplemental receptacle, reduced at the bottom, forming with the carbidreceptacle a capillary spaceand a water-supply space.

10. In a gas-generator, the combination of awater-chamber, a carbid-receptacle, a supplemental open receptacle practically fitting the carbid-receptacle, but having projections or indentations to separate it slightly therefrom.

11. In a gas-generator,the combination with a water-chamber, a communicating carbid-receptacle, a supplemental receptacle inclosed by the carbid-receptacle, and forming therewith a water-supply space and a capillary space.

12. In a gas-generator, the combination of a water-chamber, a carbid-receptacle, a supplemental receptacle separated from the walls of the carbid-receptacle to form spaces at different levels of different widths.

13. In a gasgenerator, the combination of a water-chamber,a carbid-receptacle, a supplemental open receptacle having indentations along its top edge to separate it from the wall of the carbid-receptacle to form a capillary space, and separated at the base to form a wider Water-supply space. I

14. In a gas-generator, the combination of a water-chamber, acarbid-receptacle, a supplemental receptacle fitting in the bottom of the carbid-receptacle to form therewith a capillary space, and means for securing and releasing the supplemental receptacle.

15. In a gas-generator, the combination of a water-chamber, a carbid-receptacle, a supplemental open receptacle having an inclined top, a reduced portion at the bottom, the supplemental receptacle being slightly separated from the carbid-receptacle to form a capillary space, the capillary space being comparatively short at the lowest point and gradually increasing in height around the supplemental receptacle.

16. In a gas-generator, the combination of a water-chamber, a carbid-receptacle, and an open'vessel substantially conforming to the bottom part of the receptacle and slightly separated therefrom, the top edge of its wall forming the boundary of an inclined plane.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARTWELL W. WEBB.

Witnesses:

OsoAR WARNER, OSCAR R. WEISS. 

